Meat-holder.



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G. L. STARK & A. W. BAXTER.

' MEAT HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG 7, 1909.

974,199. Pat ntedN07 1,1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. STARK AND ALBERT W. BAX'I'ER, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE L. STARK and ALBERT W. BAx'rER, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Meat-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device by means of which boneless hams or other meat may be secured into a compact form and retained in such form while being boiled and smoked, the object of the device beingto obviate the labor heretofore required in binding the ham in sacks previous to boiling, the removal of the sacks after boiling and the tying with strings previous to smoking, and also to provide means for producing a more compact and perfect shape of the ham.

Heretofore boneless hams have been prepared by binding theham in a cylindrical roll by means of strings, which left the ends of the ham unfiinshed and produced short pieces at the ends when cutting the ham after having been prepared. With the present invention the ends of the ham are formed flat and perpendicular to the axis of the ham, and the ends are of the same size or of the same diameter as the body of the ham, so that when prepared the 11am is in the shape of a perfect cylinder and the end slices are of the same size and form as slices from the center.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line m w Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a slotted plate and an end disk. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the fastening means shown in Fig. 3.

The device comprises a cylindrical wire receptacle composed of a series of circular wires 1 which at the bottom extend through and are spaced apart by a bar 2. The wires 1 do not form complete circles, but their upper ends are bent back to form hooks 3, each hook being received between a pair of edge bars 4'and 5, as clearly shown in detail in Fig. 5. The edge bars 4 and 5, are secured together by rivets 6. Each pair of edge bars may be sprung apart to permit the ham to be laid within the wire cylinder, after which the cylinder may be contracted by means of adjustable connections which extend between the edge bars. These con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 7, 1909.

MEAT-HOLDER.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910. Serial No. 511,837.

nections may be of any desired construction, but we prefer to form them as curved straps 7, each'strap 7 having a series of notches 8 in each edge which are adapted to engage a pair of studs 9 which project from the edge bar 4. Each strap 7 is pivoted at one end on a pintle 10 which is supported by a bracket 11 secured to the opposite edge bar 4. The straps 7 may thus be engaged at various points with the studs 9, according to the size of the ham within the cylinder. To engage or disenga e a strap 7 from its studs 9 the strap is simply swung up or down on its pintle 10.

The ham is first boiled and then smoked. During the smoking operation the ham is retained in the wire cylinder just described, but during the boiling operation which takes place previous to the smoking operation a plate 12 is inserted and also end disks 13. The plate 12 is curved in cross section but on a larger circle than the contracted circle of the wires 1, and the edges of the plate are formed with slots 12 which receive the wires 1, the center portion of plate 12 occupying a position inside the edges .of the cylinder, while the outer side portions of the plate 12 cross over between the wires 1 and extend slightly beyond the same as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of the plate 12 is to form a more complete inclosure for the ham While boiling and prevent the ham from squeezing out through the gap between the edge bars 4, and also to form a support for the end disks 13. Each end disk 13 comprises a sheet metal plate which is permanently secured to a cross shaped frame 14, from the upper bar of which an arm 15 projects longitudinally of the cylinder. The arm 15 is guided in ways 16 formed of sheet metal and riveted to the plate 12, and the outer ends of the plate 12 are slotted at 17 to receive the frame bar 14 which permits the disks 13 to be moved longitudinally and adjusted. In order to hold the disks 13 adjustably in position a fiat spring 18 is secured to the top of each arm 15 and is provided with a bolt 19 which is adapted to engage in any one of a series of notches 20 formed in the plate 12.

The ham is first inserted in the wire receptacle before the plate 12 and disks 13 are applied, the wire receptacle being sprung open between the edge bars 4 to permit the easy insertion of the ham, and after the ham is inserted the plate 12 carrying the disks 13 is inserted, one notched edge of the plate 12 being first slipped under one edge of the receptacle so that the wires 1 are received by the slots 12' in that edge of the plate 12,

' the bolts 19 engaging in the perforations 20.

Then the wire receptacle is contracted and the straps 7 are engaged over the studs 9, so that the ham is held securely within the receptacle and completely fills the same. The ham is then boiled. After boiling the straps 7 are released and the plate 12, together with disks 13, are withdrawn and then the wire receptacle is again contracted to grasp the ham and the ham is then smoked.

What we claim is 1. An open-work receptacle adapted to receive the ham, a plate adapted to be placed in said receptacle, and end disks for the receptacle having sliding engagement with said plate.

2. A wire receptacle split longitudinally and adapted to receive the ham, a plate adapted to be placed across the longitudinal opening in the wire receptacle, and end disks slidably mounted on said plate and adjustably secured thereto.

3. A wire receptacle adapted to receive the ham, said receptacle having a longitudinal opening, adjustable connections for permitting expansion of the receptacle and for holding the same when contracted around the ham, and adjustable end disks for the cylinder.

at. A wire receptacle comprising a series of substantially circular wires, the end of each wire having a hook, two pair of edge bars engaging the respective hooked ends of the wire, adjustable connections extending between the edge bars, a plate adapted to be inserted under the edge bars, and end disks slidably engaging said plate.

5. An eXpansible receptacle adapted to receive the ham having a longitudinal opening, a plate for closing said opening, said plate having a series of slots in each edge adapted to receive the wires of the receptacle, and end disks slidably engaging said plate.

6. An expansible receptacle adapted to receive the ham having a longitudinal opening, a plate for closing said opening, said plate having a series of slots in each edge adapted to receive the wires of the receptacle. end disks slidably engaging said plate, said plate having a series of perforations, each end disk having an arm extending longitudinally of the receptacle, and spring pressed bolts on said arms adapted to engage said perforations in said plate.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of July 1909.

GEORGE L. STARK. ALBERT 1V. BAXTER. In presence of P. H. SHELToN, FRANK LA GRAHAM. 

